My Favorite Totems

This pole serves two purposes. First, it is a genealogical record of four house groups and serves as a memorial to them. Although not visible in this photo, an eagle at the top of the pole symbolizes the Eagle Claw House. This is followed by two beavers representing the Beaver Dam House and the Beaver Tail House. The bottom beaver seen here can be identified by the cross hatched black tail. The face at the bottom of the pole symbolizes the fourth group, the Giant Rock Oyster House.

The second purpose of this pole is to tell a story - a sad story. Tricia Brown, in her guidebook of Totem Bight, refers to totem poles as "Silent Storytellers." The story behind this pole is how the Giant Rock Oyster house got its name. While searching for devilfish, the figure crouching beside the pole put his hand in a crevice and a giant devilfish grabbed it When his companions were unable to extricate him they went for help, but when they returned the tide had come in and drowned him.